Teen Driver Dies From Tuesday Crash

The 2002 Ford Explorer owned by Brett Charmello comes to rest in a field off of Wible Road in East Franklin Township in a Tuesday evening accident. Charmello died Wednesday morning at UPMC Presbyterian Hospital in Pittsburgh from irreversible brain injuries.

by David Croyle

An East Franklin Township teenager lost his life after being ejected from his vehicle during a crash around 7:30 Tuesday evening.

An East Franklin Township police report stated that 17-year-old Brett Joseph Charmello was driving his 2002 Ford Explorer on Wible Road at 7:52PM yesterday when he lost control of the vehicle and left the roadway.

“He and his friends were coming from a friend’s house,” Brett’s father Scott Charmello said. “He text his mother and said he would be home by 7:30. At 8:00 she heard the sirens and knew something was wrong.”

His mother, Nicole, said Brett was only two minutes away from home when the accident occurred. His father was at work in Cranberry Township at the time of the accident.

His father said that Brett was coming from the mall heading toward Route 422 when he reached down to change stations on the radio. He veered off the road into some gravel while rounding a curve. He swerved but was not able to recover control of the vehicle. The car rolled over and Brett, who was not wearing his seatbelt, was thrown from the vehicle.

Brett was airlifted by STAT MedVac helicopter to UPMC Presbyterian Hospital in Pittsburgh. He was pronounced dead at UPMC Presbyterian Hospital shortly after 8AM Wednesday morning from irreversible brain injuries.

A passenger, Adam Michael Johnson, 19, of Kittanning, was also injured and flown to a Pittsburgh hospital, but was released on Wednesday. Another third passenger, Anthony Ransom, 17, was taken to ACMH Hospital. His condition is not available at this time. A fourth passenger, Tyler Grantz, 18, received abrasions but refused treatment.

Brett was the oldest son of Scott and Nicole Charmello. They live on Butler Road with two other children, 10-year-old Dominec and 4-year-old Cadence.

The Charmello family moved to East Franklin Township five years ago from the city of Pittsburgh. “We didn’t want the kids growing up with influences in the city, so we moved here,” Scott Charmello said.

His father said that Brett was a good student who took calculus classes and assisted running errands in the school office. Brett was scheduled to graduate from Kittanning Senior High School in another month. He was employed at the West Kittanning Foodland. His plans were to enroll at IUP Northpointe after graduation and study the field of sports medicine.

The family said that funeral arrangements are being made at the Brady Funeral Home on Cedar Avenue in Pittsburgh. Arrangements are incomplete at this time.

“He had lots of friends,” his father remarked. “Everyone always commented about his smile.” Brett and his father often worked out together at Mac’s Gym in West Kittanning.

“He was an amazing young man,” his mother said. “He was my pride and joy. Part of me is gone.”

The East Franklin Township Fire Department was at the scene along with Kittanning #6 Ambulance Service. The Kittanning Police also provided assistance.

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  By reed619, April 15, 2010 @ 8:07 AM

  Such a tragic loss and so sad to hear. He was in my niece’s senior class at KHS. My heart goes out to the family and friends of Brett and they are in my thoughts and prayers during this difficult time.

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